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Tuesday, December 7th, 2004

Marianne Faithfull collapses: European tour abandoned.

Marianne Faithfull’s European tour –- due to end in London later this month –- has been abandoned because of severe illness. The singer collapsed with a seizure just prior to taking the stage in Milan last Wednesday (01.12.04) and doctors have diagnosed chronic exhaustion.

At first it was hoped Marianne would be well enough to resume the tour after a week’s rest –- the six most immediate concerts were postponed last Thursday morning. Doctors, however, have now advised Marianne to take three months’ total rest and the remaining dates on the tour have been pulled. All the shows will be re-scheduled for the spring of next year. “I’m sorry to have let my fans down, but I will be back,” says Marianne.

The shows affected are in Milan, Zurich, Graz, Linz, Vienna, Palma, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Brussels and Dublin. She was also due to play at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on Monday 13th December before ending the tour at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London on Thursday 16th December.

Marianne’s exhaustion is the consequence of a gruelling work schedule that started with her summer stage performances in The Black Rider, director Robert Wilson’s celebrated and award-winning theatre production. The Black Rider opened at London’s Barbican theatre in May before transferring to San Francisco in August -- Marianne starred in some 75 performances of the opera before the production’s American season ended in mid-October.

Once The Black Rider had finished in San Francisco, Marianne immediately embarked on a promotional tour of Europe in support of her much-acclaimed Before the Poison album, released at the end of September.

She then went into rehearsals with her band to prepare for the European tour, which opened in Iceland on Thursday 11th November. Marianne had played dates through Scandinavia and in Germany before reaching Italy on Wednesday.

All current ticket holders are advised to retain their tickets until details of the re-scheduled tour are announced in the near future.